Yacht Focus: BOLD
AS THE 85M EXPEDITION YACHT PREPARES TO BEGIN AN ADVENTUROUS PACIFIC CRUISE – FEATURING PATAGONIA, THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA – CAPTAIN TODD LEECH REVEALS HOW THE YACHT PROVIDES THE IDEAL PLATFORM FROM WHICH TO EXPLORE SUCH DESTINATIONS.
Aptly described as the Range Rover Sport pickup truck of the yachting world, 85m expedition yacht Bold’s entire operation revolves around the activities that it facilitates. As Captain Todd Leech sees it, Bold is more of a tool than a yacht.
“She’s a means to have adventures,” Captain Todd explains. “Our huge aft deck allows us to load any toy or tender you could wish for with minimal planning and effort. Unlike most superyachts, we don’t have to spend three hours packing up and loading into a hidden tender bay because we’ve got all the space ready to go.”
Designed with charter in mind, Bold’s ideal client was originally presumed to be adults looking to party and adventure. Since she hit the market in 2019, however, the yacht is also proving very popular amongst young families. “Every area is a wet area, so it lends itself very well to entertaining children,” adds Captain Todd. “They can paint and throw water balloons nearly anywhere on the boat and it’s not an issue.”
Bold’s crew have been carefully selected due to their interest in water sports, travel and adventure, and at times the line between guests and crew is blurred as the crew will often join any excursions or activities. With some proficient photographers and drone operators amongst the team, it’s the perfect opportunity to document the guest experiences and capture those once-in-a-lifetime memories.
“We make some great videos for our charter guests,” says Captain Todd. “We have two big screens on board, one in the helicopter hanger and one in the main saloon, which means we can shoot footage during the day and play it back that evening while the guests are relaxing or enjoying drinks and dinner.”
While Bold’s aft deck is focused on fun and adventure – carrying a helicopter, three tenders, three Sea-Doos, two laser sailing dinghies and much, much more – the guest spaces provide a distinct separation from the operational aspects. With an interior designed to feel like a New York loft apartment, the disassociation between the utilitarian aft deck and the three other guest decks is dramatic.
When all the toys are launched, the aft deck also transforms into an expansive space for guests to make use of. Another unique aspect is that Bold features eight guest suites, providing flexible room configuration options for larger charter groups or extra space for supernumeraries – a rarity for yachts of this size.
Pivotal to Bold’s ability to be enjoyed anywhere in the world, no matter the climate, is its winter garden. Aft of the owner’s deck and featuring floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, the generous space can be transformed into an open terrace in the sun by simply folding away the windows. In cold, wet or windy weather, however, the windows can be tightly shut to provide protection while bathing the space in natural light and maintaining a close connection with the surrounding environment.
The winter garden will come into its own as the yacht ventures to colder climes. As we speak with Captain Todd, he is preparing to take Bold through the Panama Canal and down to Patagonia, where the yacht will stay for six weeks of cruising. With Patagonia’s spectacular scenery and clear skies at this time of year, he anticipates that Bold’s helicopter will be in frequent use!
After Patagonia, Bold will visit the Galapagos and head up the West Coast into British Columbia and Alaska for the summer season – destinations that Captain Todd is particularly excited about. “I’m looking forward to putting the bow underneath a glacier waterfall in Alaska,” he reflects. “As well as the heli-skiing opportunities in British Columbia – we’ve got two helipads on board, so we are likely to hire another helicopter and really make the most of that.”
For more information about chartering Bold please contact charter@hillrobinson.com
